When it comes to raising a dog, proper discipline and training are necessary. A few ground rules must developed and enforced in a gentle manner so that the pup can stay out of trouble and danger. Furthermore, discouraging particular behavior is necessary, such as biting or aggression towards strangers or other dogs, as it can put your pup and others in harm’s way. As we always maintain, raising and training a dog requires patience and care. Here is a list of methods you can use to discipline your pup when necessary.
When Is Discipline Required?
Most dog breeds are generally loving and curious, especially Labradors. Their playful nature sometimes expressed in the wrong way, leading to uncomfortable situations. Your dog may develop a habit of jumping onto guests to greet them. Even though they may be doing this out of love. It may not be perceived in the same way by your guests, and they might think that the dog is attacking them. To avoid such uncomfortable situations, creating rules, and having a method to enforce those rules is necessary. Here are a few commands and methods you can use when you want your pup to stop behaving a certain way or to stop them from performing an action.
How You Can Enforce Rules
1- The Sit Command
If you face a scenario where you need to immediately stop your dog from doing something. Your first line of defense is using the “Sit” command. Most often, this is the first command your dog will learn when you begin training. The pup immediately recognizes it. In case you need some emergency intervention. Using the set command is an excellent way to make your puppy stop an action.
2- Distract Your Pup
If you find your pup repeatedly going after something or doing the same action again and again, the quick solution is to distract your dog with something that immediately grabs their attention. You can use some favorite toy or make a loud sound or clap to distract them from the action instantly, and you can work forward from there to tell your pup what you want them to do next.
3- Enact the Scenario
An excellent way to stop specific behavior completely is to enact the scenario with a trusted friend or family member and guide your pups’ actions to help them learn. For example, if the issue is jumping onto guests, you can have a friend who is aware of the exercise to come as a guest, and when you see your dog performing the undesirable actions, you can calmly guide your pup to stop using common commands. This helps them learn what is right and wrong in a safe and controllable manner.
4- Use Positive Reinforcement
If your pup follows your instructions and stops performing specific behavior, you can support their learning by using positive reinforcement to show that they are doing good. You can use treats or toys to reward good behavior. Helping the dog learn commands and the proper behavior more easily.
Conclusion
Discouraging certain behavior is only a matter of patience and taking the time to teach your pup how to behave. Strict measures should only be used as a last resort. Which can include putting your dog in isolation or time-out. But we do not encourage such treatment. It is more benefiting to take the time to train your pup rather than using aggressive methods.
